CHICAGO – Three seniors on the 2013 Saint Xavier University football roster were named to the 2013 Beyond Sports Network (BSN) Preseason NAIA All-America Team when it was released Thursday by the online sports media network. The trio includes linebacker Zach Dolph (Crest Hill, Ill./Joliet Catholic) with first team honors, safety Jacob Ghinazzi (Rockford, Ill./Boylan Catholic) on the second team and running back Nick Pesek (Oak Lawn, Ill./Oak Lawn Community) claiming honorable mention recognition. All three were instrumental in helping lead SXU to an 11-2 overall record and a berth in the 2012 NAIA Football Championship Series semifinals.

Dolph set a new single season record at Saint Xavier University with 128 total tackles (64 solos) during the 2012 campaign. He also led the Cougars with 19.5 tackles for losses totaling 62 yards as well as a team-best three forced fumbles. Ghinazzi finished last season with 76 total tackles (45 solos) and also tallied three interceptions and six pass break-ups. Pesek led SXU in rushing last fall posting 1,125 net yards on 180 carries with 10 touchdowns (eight rushing). He also became the first Cougar to surpass 2,000 career rushing yards in 2012.

Saint Xavier switches over to the Midwest League of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) for the 2013 season and opens its new campaign with a home crossover game against defending national champion and former Mideast League rival Marian University (Ind.) on Saturday, September 7. The opener is scheduled for a 6 p.m. kick-off at Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field in Chicago.